by Don a. Shotliff (Author)
How did Mary Star football come to be? Who were the leading and outstanding "actors" in the story? The decade had some high drama, sinking disappointments and significant achievements. These ten years of development established a firm foundation for Mary Star of the Sea High School. Despite policies and decisions that were made during the 1950s, which were beyond the control of the Mary Star of the Sea parish, the school is still growing and vibrant today.
Author Biography
Don A Shotliff began kindergarten at Mary Star of the Sea in September 1945, and graduated from Mary Star High School in June 1959. He liked second grade so much that he spent two years there! He witnessed the parish development on that city square block in San Pedro. Don received his B.A. in history from Loyola University of Los Angeles in 1963. In subsequent years he earned an M.A. in education from Cal Poly (SLO) and another M.A. from Loyola in U.S. history. In 1978, he was awarded a PhD. in U.S. history from Kent State University, in Kent, Ohio. Shotliff taught U.S. history during much of his 34 year teaching career at Thousand Oaks High School and Westlake High School in Ventura County. During his career in education, Shotliff coached football for twenty-five years and cross country and track for an additional eight years. Don is now retired and lives with his wife, Marion in the mountain community of Wrightwood, California. They raised 5 children, and presently have twelve grand children and three great grand kids.